Contextual Priming

Kelley Rolak & Margaret Pawlowski

Philosophy
Contextual priming attempts to improve word retrieval through the use of massed
repetition of a subset of words, maximizing activation of a larger word set.
Words within a set are related by context
Semantic
Phonologic

Rationale
If a set of semantically or phonologically related words are primed repeatedly,
repetition priming will increase the strength of semantic-lexical or lexicalphonological connections, and will increase further activation of words in the set
(Martin, 2013).

Population
Designed for patients with word retrieval deficits.
Small-scale studies using contextual priming have been conducted in
populations with the following types of aphasia:
Brocas aphasia

Conduction aphasia
Anomic aphasia

Subject Information
Client: PG
Age: 71
Diagnosis: Brocas aphasia since LCVA incurred in 2010
Communicates in 1-2 word phrases and stereotypies

Exhibits strength in lexical-phonological associations during word retrieval tasks.

Goal & Objective

Goal: PG will improve word recall.
Objective: PG will target word retrieval using contextual priming.

Procedure
Pretest: Presented entire 10-word set
Priming: 1. Clinican displays 5 Priming Pictures (half of set) in front of client
2. Clinician points to pictures in random order and provides
label
3. Client repeats after each model
4. Cycle is repeated 4 times
5-minute break
Post-test: Presented entire 10-word set

Components
Stimuli: 2 sets of 10 picture cards
Set 1: Semantic
Set 2: Phonological
Response: Verbal response (independent, repetition, independent)

Type of practice: Massed-distributed

Data collection: Binary scoring (1: correct; 0: incorrect/no response/cue)
Feedback: Pretest - none; Post-test - cues if necessary

Outcomes
Pretest

Post-test

Semantic Context

3/10

4/10

Phonologic Context

4/10

3/10

Demonstration
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPEGFczIsi4

References
Martin, N., Fink, R., Laine, M., & Ayala, J. (2004). Immediate and short-term
effects of contextual priming on word retrieval in aphasia. Aphasiology, 18(10),
867-898.
Martin, N., Fink, R., & Laine, M. (2004). Treatment of word retrieval deficits with
contextual priming. Aphasiology, 18(5/6/7), 457-471.
Martin, N. (2013). Disorders of word production. In Papathanasiou, I., Coppens,
P., & Potagas, C. (Eds.), Aphasia and related neurogenic communication
disorders (131-155). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Publishers.